ENTERTAINMENT
The University Daily KANSAN
January 13.1984 Page 6
13th deserves bad reputation
It happened again. The 13th of the month has landed on Friday, leaving superstitious people leery, nervous and probably spending the day at home.
By MELISSA BAUMAN Staff Reporter
This infamous day is not met without a few reservations. Friday the 13th has a long history of ill-happenings that would make the bravest person think twice before he walked under a ladder or crossed a black cat's path.
Friday the 13th is considered unlucky for a number of reasons that stem primarily from religious traditions and Nordic mythology.
Because Christ was crucified on a Friday, Catholics were not allowed to eat meat on that day.
Superstition dictates against starting a new job, getting married or launching a ship on Friday.
THIRTEEN is also ill-fated because Jesus and his twelve disciples totaled 13 at the Last Supper.
However, this superstition dates further back than the days of Christ. According to Nordic mythology, the evil god Loki crashed a banquet attended by 12 other dieties. After he was thrown out of the banquet, Loki sought revenge by arranging for the death of a popular god who attended the banquet. Thus, 13 is considered unlucky because evil Loki was the 13th member of the banquet.
Fear of 13, called triskaidekaphnia,
is responsible for architects bypassing
In France, some people even hire themselves out at a moment's notice as professional 13th guests.
13 when labeling the floors of hotel buildings and for dinner parties of 12 or 14, but nothing in between
THIS FEAR MAY not be unfounded. In April 1970, the 13th Apollo mission was launched at 13:13 hours from pad 39 (a multiple of 13.) The letters in the three astronauts' first names — James, Fred and John — totaled 13 letters, and the men were allowed rest periods beginning at 13 minutes past the hour. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration aborted the mission on April 13 when an oxygen tank exploded, according to Science Digest.
But, avoiding 13 has not always brought good fortune. The tax assessment on a Los Angeles hotel was $22,000 higher because the owner opted not to label the 13th floor, thus the hotel appeared to have an extra floor. However, the situation was soon corrected, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Therefore, Friday the 13th is a day superstitious people fear because of this unlucky combination of Friday and 13.
BUSINESSMEN, FOR EXAMPLE,
have noticed a decrease in sales on
Friday the 13th. American Airlines
reported that fewer people fly on Friday
the 13th than any other Friday. Ford
Motor Co. also reported a decrease in
sales on the dreaded day. Even fewer
Ford employees report for work on
Friday the 13th, the Los Angeles Times
reported.
This distinctive day is not all bad, however. Columbus supposedly landed in North America on Friday, June 13, 1498. The White House construction began on Friday, Oct. 13, 1792. On Friday, Sept. 13, 1814 Frances Scott Key wrote "The Star Spangled Banner."
BUT, SOME PEOPLE, enjoy being frightened by Friday the 13th. Rance Blann, city manager for Commonwealth Theatres, said that the movie "Friday the 13th" and its two sequels, "Friday the 13th Part II" and "Friday the 13th 3-D," were high-grossing films — enough to make a third sequel possible.
"The films grossed better than average. We did open one on Friday the 13th and it did pretty well. Of course, it would probably have done well anyway, but they've always been good grossers in Lawrence." Blann said.
"The only horror movie showing in Lawrence this Friday the 13th is "Christine," and Blann said that was coincidence.
"It's hard for us to plan around a certain day. Usually what we'll do during the summertime is try to do something at the drive-in. We don't really have the flexibility at the indoor theaters." he said.
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The 13th will fall on Friday two more times in 1984, in April and July. Each year there is at least one Friday the 13th and at most three. There are only three triple-wammy years remaining in this century: 1984, 1987 and 1998.
Fear and humor fuel Carpenter's 'Christine'
Christine is b-b-b bad to the bone. Christine is hell on wheels. Christine is a red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury that has the title role in the fun brightening Stephen KingJohn Carpenter thriller.
Christine is no ordinary car. This car is mean
I'm talkling really mean. Not only does
Moochie, a high-school bully played by Malcolm Denare, is chased by Christine, an evil, red 1958 Plymouth Fury. Christine stalks Moochie to seek vengeance for her owner.
BRUCE FREY
Kansan Film Critic
Christine not stop at crosswalks, she hides in the alley waiting for pedestrians.
The movie Christine is the story of what happens to mild-mannered Arnie Cunningham when he buys his first car. But Arnie finds that the car begins to own him because "her standard equipment includes an evil, indestructible vengeance." as the movie ad proclaims.
Arnie's enemies start to disappear. That's not so bad, as far as the audience is concerned. But when Arnie gets a girlfriend, Christine gets jealous.
Carpenter so obviously enjoys making horror films that they are a pleasure to watch instead of being tedious. His rooms are always dark and his streets are always deserted.
Carpenter reminds us that Christine is only a movie by purposely making the film unrealistic. The audience can sit back and watch with a happy detachment. We aren't forced to share the
Christine is a slick fantasy world where rock 'n' roll oozes from all sides and where screams in the night go unanswered.
book and the movie. But they are preached with terror of those on screen. We can if we want because the film has plenty of pleasantly harrifying moments to choose from. I chose not to be scared and sat smiling at the fun that the production crew must have had.
I bet it was a delightful challenge to take King's book and adapt it faithfully to the screen. His books have always had an underlying sense of humor that Carpenter has successfully woven
The implications of the relationship between sex, cars, and rock and roll is clear in both the
For example, Carpenter films one scene this way: The victim is alone on the street, headlights flare, and Christine bears down on the poor slob. To add a twist, Carpenter gleefully added 1950's rock 'n' roll blaring from Christine's radio.
a half-hidden smirk and aren't meant to be taken seriously.
Arnie is played by Keith Gordon, who's probably best known as the nerdy man in Dressed to Kill. He does a fine job portraying the slow process from a nice guy to a horrifying obnoxious terk.
Alexandra Paul is Arnie's beautiful new girl friend and John Stockwell is Arnie's good-looking, football-player friend. Both fit Carnegie and play in the national teenagers who must fight the supernatural.
If you aren't really interested in an experly-
made thriller about a car that puts itself back
together, then go to the movie for this reason:
last line of the movie is the best I've heard in
1983.
Go. Have fun. But when you leave the theatre, look both ways before crossing the street.
THE MIDWESTERN TROMBONE WORKSHOP CONCERT will feature Morningside College Trombone Ensemble and the KU Trombone Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
THE INTER-VARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP will sponsor a speech by Larry W. Tyndall on "Reclaiming Dating: A Biblical Perspective on Male and Female Relationships," at 6:30 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union.
ON CAMPUS
TODAY
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Kansas welcomes information on events that are free to the public. To submit an entry call 864-4810 or stop by the newsroom at 111 Stauffer Flint Hall.
THE MIDWESTERN TROMBONE WORKSHOPCONCEPT will feature Morningside College Trombone Ensemble and the KU Trombone Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. in Swarthout Reception Hall.
MONDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
THE VISTING ARTISTS SERIES presents Hubert Mathys, on the clarinet at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
JEFFREY NOLTE, bass senior recital will be at 3:30 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
"ROEYER BOATS: HULLS & FLOATERS, 1980-1984" by Mark Roeyer will open at the Spencer Museum of Art. The exhibit will run until Jan. 27.
PARE TIME
THE BLACK STUDENT UNION will sponsor a dance at 10 p.m. in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.
TODAY
SUA FILMS presents "Raiders of the Lost
Audience" at 8 p.m. in Woodruff
Auditorium of the Kansas Union
SUA FILMS presents "2001: A Space Odyssey"
in wood in Wright Auditorium of
Ullmerton
CITY LIGHTS ORCHESTRA will perform at The Jazzhaus, 920 1/2 Massachusetts St.
THE BAND, JTN will perform at the Pladium,
901 Mississippi St.
TOMORROW
SUA FILMS: presents "The Duellists" at 2 p.m. in woodruff Auditorium of the Kansas State University.
JACK SHELDON AND RED HOLLOWAY will perform at The Jazzhaus, 920 % Massachusetts
THE BAND, JTN will perform at the Pladium,
901 Mississippi St.
KU Theatre schedules open-call auditions
Call-backs will be Wednesday through Friday. Auditioners should check the call-back lists, which will be posted in the green room in Murphy Hall, each day.
Any KU student enrolled in six hours or more is eligible to audition. Each student should have a two-minute audition prepared. Reading material will be available.
Open-call auditions will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the old bank building at Eighth and Massachusetts streets for the University of Kansas Theatre productions "The Skin of Our Teeth" and "Pot-Pourri Productions."
Students may sign up for audition times from 1 to 5. p.m. in the Murphy Hall lobby.
Renowned organinst to play here Tuesday
Mason, a professor of music and chairman of the Organ Department at the University of Michigan, annually plays a coast-to-coast concert tour of the United States and Canada.
Marilyn Mason, a prominent organist and harpsichordist, will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 in Swarthout Recital Hall as part of the University of Kansas Visiting Artists Series.
In 1890, she was the featured artist at the national convention of the American Guild of Organists. She also has performed in Carnegie Hall with violinist Pierre D'Archembau.
Familiar faces fill list of '83's top performers
Mason has a doctor of sacred music degree from the Union Theological Seminary and has been an Associate Professor in the Department.
Michael Jackson, without a doubt, became the most popular singer of 1983. His album "Thriller" sold more than 8 million copies across the country and is expected to remain in the Top 10 for several more weeks. He received 12 Grammy-award nominations, including best album and best male vocalist.
THE AUSTRALIAN BAND MEN at Work, with their debut album, "Business as Usual," ranked second to Jackson. The Police had a successful year with their album "Synchrony." Hall and Oates, with "HEO," and "1999" took the fourth and fifth positions.
By PHIL ENGLISH Staff Reporter
Anyone who has access to a radio, television or bookstore will find little or no surprises when looking at 1983's best sellers. The most popular singers, songwriters, performers and authors this year all had familiar faces.
"On the Hill, A Photographic History of The University of Kansas," compiled by Virginia Adams, Katie Armitage, Donna Butler, Carol Shankel and Barbara Watkins; and "Discover Kansas" by Ginny Weathers were two big sellers locally.
In Lawrence, record sales followed a similar pattern. The big surprise came from the fact that Lawrence's business had grown.
Rochelle McKown, book buyer for The Town Crier, 930 Massachusetts St., said that regional history books were the biggest surprise success of the year.
Billboard's most popular singles include The Police, with "Every Breath You Take"; Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and "Beat It"; and Men at Work's "Down Under."
Rounding out the Top 10 albums were Lionel Ritchie with his self-titled album; Def Leppard with "Pyromania"; Culture Club with its first album, "Kissing to be Clever." Olivia Newton John with her greatest hits and Jane Fonda with her workout album.
THE MOST POPULAR books nationwide, according to The World Almanac's 1984 edition, include "Space," by James Michener; "The Jane Fonda Workbook." "The Road to Gandolfo," by Robert Ladium; "Master of the Game," by Sidney Cotterill; "The Game," by Leo Buscaglia; and "E.T.," by Lee Buscaglia; and "E.T.," The Extra-Terrestrial, by William Kotzwinkle.
According to Billboard magazine, the top Jazz albums were "Two of a Kind," by Bob James and Earl Klugh. Al Jarreau's self-titled album, "As We Speak," by John Coltrane and Sampson "In Your Eyes" by the Pat Metheny Group; and "On Your Eyes" by George Benson.
STEVE WILSON, manager of Kief's Discount Records, 2100 W. 25th St., said three regional bands managed to sell from 100 to 300 records last year. The Morels, from Springfield, Mo., with their first album, "Shake and Push," sold well locally. Lawrence's own Thums, with the second album from 1986, defunct Wichita band, The Embrassment, with "Death Travels West," both fared well locally.
appeal to the college town audience
BLOOM COUNTY
BY BERKE BREATHED